Wallpaper cutter



June 9, 1959 R. D. BAKER WALLPAPER CUTTER Filed July 31, 1957 E m /1D 5/2 INVENTOR. 75 B 1% 7 ATTORNEY United States Patent WALLPAPER CUTTER Ralph Douglas Baker, Chicago, Ill. Application July 31, 1957, Serial No. 675,479

7 Claims. (Cl. 30-294) This invention relates to improvements in wallpaper cutters, particularly suitable for use in trimming wallpaper during hanging thereof, although the device is also suitable for cutting other types of paper, cloth, cardboard, and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a tool of this character which is simple in construction, easy to use, which can be used to secure access to places normally difiicult to reach, which permits cutting of paper and like material with high accuracy and in close relation to obstructions and trim members.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a novel blade carrier which positions a blade therein detachably in a predetermined location and with respect to which the blade may be applied and removed without requiring the use of tools.

A further object is to provide a cutter of this character with guide rollers so oriented to a blade as to hold the paper being out against bunching, tearing or splintering, and which rollers are so oriented as to produce minimum interference with cutting action.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side view of the device with parts shown in section taken on line 11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a view of the device taken at right angles to Fig. 1 looking upwardly at the bottom of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the blade carrier and the blade mounted therein.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral designates a handle. The handle may be of any configuration desired, and preferably includes a recessed portion 12 adjacent one end thereof to receive the index finger of the hand of the user when so positioned as to permit the thumb to press against the opposite edge of the handle. A slotted cutter frame is mounted upon the end of the handle adjacent the notch 12 and includes a pair of close spaced metal plates 14 extending in parallel relation to each other and secured at the reduced end portion 16 of the handle by means of rivets or other securing members 18. The plates 14 are rigid and are interconnected at their free ends by a spacer member 20. In the form shown, while the inner faces of the members 14 are parallel, the outer faces thereof are tapered or beveled for a substantial part of the width thereof at 22.

A pair of rollers 24 are journalled upon rivets 26 anchored to the tapered portions of the plates 14 adjacent to the thin edges thereof. Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, the rollers 24 are of a diameter greater than the width of the members 14 and the axis of rotation thereof adjacent the narrow edge of the members 14 permits projection of a part of each roller from the narrow edge of member 14 while the diametrically opposite part of each roller lies 1 alongside the plates 14. The rollers 24 extend at an angle to each other, as illustrated in Fig. 3, with their inner faces substantially parallel to the inclined faces 22 of the parts 14. Thus the projecting portions of the rollers 24 are spaced apart only a small distance. The rollers 24 are here shown as being provided with frusto conical outer surfaces 28 providing only narrow peripheral portions 30 to limit the width of the contact of the rollers with the work. The rivets 26 upon which the rollers 24 rotate are preferably staked to the members 14 by providing the same with narrow necks 32 passing through openings in the members 14 anchored at flared heads 34 preferably seated in countersunk portions of the openings receiving the necks 32.

A blade carrier 36, preferably of the construction illustrated in Fig. 4, fits between the plates 14 and is pivoted to rotate on the pivot pin 38 anchored to the members 14. The blade carrier has an end portion 40 apertured to pivot on the pin 18 and has a laterally projecting portion 42 constituting a thumb engaging part. The blade clamp portion 44 projects longitudinally from the thumb part 42 and includes a pair of spaced parallel gripping jaws 46. A hook member 48 terminating in a longitudinally projecting finger 50 is located between the blade clamp 44 and the pivot ear 40, said hook member projecting in the same direction as the blade clamps 46 and opposite the direction in which the thumb member 42 projects from the part 36. At the opposite or free end of the member 36 is provided a perpendicularly extending lip 52. v

The member 36 is preferably of substantial uniform width throughout and is of a thickness slightly less than the spacing between the members 14, so that it is free to pivot therebetween. A pin or other stop member 54 extending between the frame members 14 provides means for limiting swinging of the blade carrier 36 in one direction. Resilient means, such as a leaf spring 56, anchored at one end thereof by a pin 58 extending between the members 14, serves normally to press the blade carrier against the stop 54. The parts are normally so positioned that the thumb-engaging portion 42 of the carrier will be projected by the spring to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, projecting from the outline of the members 14 at the side thereof opposite the side at which the rollers 24 project from the frame. It will be observed that the parts are so oriented that the pivot pin 38 is located adjacent the handle 10, and is also the thumb projection 42, while the free end of the blade carrier is located adjacent to the cross member 20 with which it has clearance to accommodate pivotal movement, as illustrated in full and dotted lines in Fig. 1.

A conventional single edge safety razor blade is accommodated by the carrier. Thus the blade 60 has a single straight cutting edge 62 and its opposite margin is clamped in a folded metal carrier 64 which is of U-shape in cross-section, as best seen in Fig. 3. The blade 60 is notched at 66 at its opposite ends adjacent to the reinforcing member 64. The blade carrier is made in such proportions as to firmly and detachably grip such blade. Thus the blade reinforcing member 64 is clamped and frictionally held between carrier jaws 46 while the ends thereof are located between the hook 48 and the finger 52 of the carrier. The finger 52 of the hook 48 projects into the notch 66 of the blade 60 at one end thereof, and the operation of applying a blade in the carrier entails insertion of the part 64 between the jaws 46 while at an endwise inclination thereto and in such a manner as to permit sliding of the notch 66 of the blade over the finger 50. Thereupon the blade can be pressed endwise against the hook 48 and swung toward parallel relation to seat fully between the jaws with the outer end of .the bladewithin the outline of the projecting finger 52. .A reverse? operation entailing swinging of the blade to free the outer end thereof from the finger 52 and then pulling the same endwise to disengage the same from the hook finger 50 and completed by pulling the blade from engagement with the clamping .jaws 46 accomplishes removal of the blade. Both the removal and the application of the blade can be accomplished without requiring special tools.

'In the use of the tool it is gripped at the handle with the index finger seating in the notch 12 and the thumb pressing against the member 42. When it is desired to cut paper or other material, pressure by the thumb shifts the cutting blade 69 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, so that the outermost end of the cutting blade edge 62 contacts the work adjacent to the rollers 24 and between the same. The tool is usually employed by moving the same endwise in the direction of the handle and, therefore, it will be seen that the rollers press the work in advance of the cutting action of the blade and in such a direction as to smooth the work. Hence, as wallpaper is being cut after it has been applied to a wall and while it is in a flexible condition, the tendency thereof to bunch or tear or to splinter as would commonly occur with cutters lacking a hold-down means, is avoided. The tool is very narrow, as best seen in Fig. 2, and, therefore, full visibility thereof, and particularly of the cutting blade and the cutting action, is possible even though the cutting portion of the blade is located between the rollers 24. Thus where a cut is to be formed in an irregular path, the user can observe that path and can properly direct the cutter to follow that path.

The tilted position of the rollers places them in close spaced lateral position to the blade in. a lateral direction, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3. This assures that the paper is held down close to the point of cut. Also it insures that a cut can be made close to an obstruction, such as a trim member. A further advantage of this construction and arrangement is that a out can be formed in a corner without loss of effectiveness of the rollers as holddown means for the sheet. In the latter connection, the extent to which the blade carrier 36 is pivoted may be varied as required to engage the work and satisfy the difference in conditions which may exist where cuts are made at a corner as distinguished from instances where cuts are made against a flat surface.

In the preferred form, the frame, the rollers and the blade carrier will be made from stainless steel or other non-corrosive material. This will permit dipping of the tool in water to remove paste therefrom collected during the cutting operation without danger of rusting of the tool. It will also be understood that the frusto conical shape of the rollers is not critical, and that thin fiat rollers may be employed in place of the frusto conical shape of the rollers as shown.

The nature of the carrier is important from the standpoint that it holds the blade therein without tilting incident to the application of pressure on the thumb part 42 to move the blade to the dotted line cutting position. The hook lip 50 prevents tilting of the blade within the carrier and, particularly, prevents release of the righthand edge of the blade as viewed in Fig. 1, from the dotted line cutting position shown, where it is clear of the work, while pressure is exerted at the other end thereof. Thus the advantage of positioning of the cutting edge 62 at an angle to the surface of the material to be out is preserved and the danger of spoilage of the work, which would exist if the full length of the cutting edge were exposed to the work surface, is avoided. At the same time the lip 52 prevents outward slipping of the blade from the carrier incident to the working operation, and particularly incident to the drag or resistance to movement of the blade with the carrier which occurs as it engages or encounters the working medium. T he ready removability of the blade from the tool has been mentioned above and is a particular advantage, especially in connection with a tool of this character, and particularly in view of the fact that it enables a single blade to be reversed so as to use both ends of the cutting edge thereof before disposing of the blade.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will be under stood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A cutter comprising a handle, a pair of spaced elongated frame members carried by and projecting endwise from said handle, a pair of rollers each journaled to one of said frame members, the confronting faces of said rollers converging, a blade carrier pivoted to said frame members spaced from said rollers and including a part positioned between said rollers and adapted in one pivoted position to project beyond said rollers in the direction in which their confronting faces converge, a blade detachably mounted in said carrier, and spring means carried by said frame members and normally urging said carrier to a position in which said blade is held substantially within the outline of said frame members.

2. A cutter comprising a rigid elongated member having a hand grip at one end and a longitudinal slot in its other end, a pair of rollers journaled at opposite sides of said member adjacent said slot on angularly displaced axes, said rollers projecting laterally beyond a longitudinal edge of said member, the projecting portions of said rollers being spaced apart a distance less than the spacing between remaining portions of said rollers, a blade carrier pivoted to said member and positioned Within said slot, a blade detachably mounted in said carrier, and spring means carried by said member and normally urging said carrier to a position in which said blade is substantially confined in said slot.

3. The construction defined in claim 2, wherein the side faces of said member adjacent said rollers converge toward the edge thereof from which said rollers project for substantially parallel relation thereof to the confronting faces of said rollers.

4. A cutter comprising a rigid elongated member havmg a hand grip at one end and a longitudinal slot in its other end, a pair of rollers journaled at opposite sides of said member adjacent said slot on angularly displaced axes, said rollers projecting later-ally beyond a longitu dinal edge of said member, the projecting parts of said rollers being spaced apart less than the remainder thereof, a blade carrier pivoted to said member and positioned within said slot, and including a clamp portion and a hook portion adjacent one end of said clamp portion, a blade gripped by said clamp portion and having a notch receiving said hook portion, and resilient means carried by said member and normally positioning said blade substantially within the outline of said slotted member.

5. A cutter comprising a rigid elongated member having a hand grip at one end and 'a longitudinal slot in its other end, a pair of rollers journaled at opposite sides of said member adjacent said slot on angularly displaced axes, said rollers projecting laterally beyond an edge of said member, the projecting parts of said roller being spaced apart less than the remainder thereof, a blade carrier pivoted to said member and positioned within said slot, said carrier constituting a pair of jaws and having a finger at its free end and a hook spaced longitudinally from said finger, a blade gripped by said jaws and confined between said finger and said hook and having a notch receiving said hook, and resilient means carried by said member and normally positioning said blade in said slot.

6. A cutter comprising a rigid elongated member having a hand grip at one end and a longitudinal slot in its other end, a pair of rollers journaled at opposite sides of said member adjacent said slot on angularly displaced axes, said rollers projecting laterally beyond a side edge of said member, a blade carrier pivoted to said member and positioned within'said slot, :a blade detachably mounted in said carrier, and spring means carried by said member and normally urging said carrier to a position in which said blade is substantially confined in said slot, and a stop carried by said member and engaged by said spring-urged carrier, the projecting portions of said roller converging toward the plane of the blade.

7. A cutter comprising a rigid elongated member having a hand grip at one end and a longitudinal slot in its other end, a pair of rollers journaled at opposite sides of said member adjacent said slot on angularly displaced axes to position their inner faces in converging planes, said rollers projecting laterally beyond a longitudinal edge of said member, a blade carrier pivoted to said member and positioned within said slot, a blade detachably mounted in said carrier, and spring means carried by said memher and normally urging said carrier to a position in which said blade is substantially confined in said slot, said carrier being pivoted adjacent to said hand grip and having a portion adjacent said hand grip projecting from said member through said slot and engageable by a finger of the user, said blade being extensible between the projecting portions of said rollers in the direction in which the inner faces of said rollers converge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

